Will an entirely AI-designed molecule (not just optimized) enter Phase 3 human clinical trials before the end of 2027?

AI Drugs: Advancing to Phase 3 by 2027?

Several AI-optimized drugs are in early trials in late 2025. This prediction asks about a compound that was *entirely* conceived and designed by generative AI tools (a 'de novo' molecule) reaching the large-scale Phase 3 human trial stage by the end of 2027.

The Time and Risk Hurdle

The slight 'No' vote leads due to the inherent conservatism and timeline of clinical trials. The gap between Phase 1 (safety) and Phase 3 (efficacy, thousands of patients) is long, typically 3-5 years. While AI accelerates the initial discovery (reducing time from years to months), Phase 2 trials require significant patient data collection. A 2027 Phase 3 start date would require an AI-designed drug to demonstrate exceptional efficacy and receive fast-track designation very quickly, making it a high hurdle.